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1918 Map of Dryden Crossing

Name: 1918 Topographic Map of Dryden Crossing
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1918
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1918

About this map

The Rio Grande marks the international boundary in this 1917 survey, where the rugged terrain of West Texas meets the Mexican state of Coahuila. This landscape is defined by its isolation and its vital water sources, as shown by the naming of Black Water Hole, Blue Water Hole, and Middle Watering. The era's transit relies on primitive tracks like the Shaffer Crossing Road and Cable Crossing Road, which navigate the deep cuts of Sanderson Canyon and Shafter Canyon.

Settlement is sparse and centered on established ranching operations including Coffin Ranch, Mc Clain Ranch, and Miller Ranch. Strategic river access points are critical, notably the Shafter Crossing and the specialized Dryden Crossing (Cable) south of the Cable Hills. This map documents a transitional period of borderland history when individual ranch holdings and difficult river crossings shaped the geographic character of Terrell County.